Carla, a Navy spouse of over 14 years, is a Social Advocacy Clinical Counselor at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Fleet and Family Support Center. Carla is a licensed professional counselor, IPT-certified sandtray therapist, and special education advocate. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership and counselor education from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Carla has experience working in local, state, federal, and non-profit agencies focused on providing support services in obtaining affordable housing for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, higher education, and career development.
Carla’s research interest explores understanding the role of womanhood, motherhood, and intersectionality, supporting non-traditional and marginalized communities accessing higher education, and cultural implications on family acculturation to military service and the implications for cultural identity on military spouse identity development.
As a doctoral student, Carla was nominated for Doctoral Student of the Year and assisted the creation of a campus organization focused on supporting student parents through connection, collaboration, and psychoeducation.
Carla’s family has gone through four duty stations and four deployments. In her community, Carla has utilized the Exceptional Family Member Program for her child and serves as a volunteer advocate for families with children with disabilities. She works to educate parents on the EFMP process and how to access the appropriate support.
She is also passionate about financial education and literacy among service members and their family members as well as military spouse employment.
Carla has one daughter, Carly, who is the light of her life. Carly was diagnosed with multiple disabilities at a young age and continues to inspire Carla through her growth and resilience to embrace new challenges. In Carla’s free time, she loves spending time with her daughter and husband, whether it is movie night at home, going to the beach, or traveling to one of the amazing bordering cities. She loves to read autobiographies, nurture her plants, and organize spaces. Recently, she has become interested in nutrition and exercise while becoming the best version of herself.
